Night Lights: Center's opening exhibit a tribute to Sahm

By Jim Beal Jr. :
May 23, 2012
: Updated: May 23, 2012 2:56pm

Doug Sahm , 58 , one of the original Sir Douglas Quintet band members and most recently with the Texas Tornados , died of natural causes in Taos, New Mexico , Thursday Nov. 18 , 1999. May 26, 1996 file photo. AP Photo/Express-News,FILE

The South Texas Popular Culture Center opens this weekend. There's a reggae-powered variety show. And fans of hard rock/heavy metal have a marathon show in the offing. Get busy.

Spotlight on S.A./SoTex

A former tattoo parlor at 1017 E. Mulberry St., next door to Planet K, has been transformed into the South Texas Popular Culture Center.

“We're calling it a center because we want it to be a go-to place for research,” said executive director Michael Ann Coker, co-founder of the center with Austin Chronicle senior staff writer Margaret Moser. “We want it to be a museum, but we also would like to have a library here. We want to go out to schools. We want people to be able to learn about the history of San Antonio music.”

The center will have its grand opening Friday from 7-10 p.m. with the inaugural exhibit, “Texas Me: Doug Sahm's San Antonio Years.” Much of “Texas Me” is drawn from items from the extensive Sahm family archives, and includes a dizzying array of memorabilia ranging from Western shirts sewn by Sahm's mother to a datebook noting Sahm's gigs at the Ebony Lounge. Admission to the center is free, but donations will be accepted.

Saturday from 7 p.m.-midnight at The Cove, there'll be a fundraiser concert for the center with music by Los #3 Dinners, Dubby Hankins & Friends and the Johnny Colvin Band.

The center also will be open noon-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Upcoming center action includes a September Texas Legacy Music honors show, an October Día de los Muertos exhibit and, in January, a celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Sex Pistols' concert at Randy's Rodeo.

Turner's Flavor

When Henry Turner Jr. and his band, Flavor, roll in from Baton Rouge, La., there will be a party. For years, Turner has been fusing reggae, soul and Louisiana funk. Dance floors fill when Turner and company hit downbeat, and the band has as much fun as the crowd.

Saturday, Turner and Flavor will kick it up several notches at The Reggae Bar, 2016 Austin Highway, with “The Ultimate Louisiana Party” from 4 p.m. until closing. Turner will team with a cross-genre program of area performers including DJs, Lynzi and Elizabeth, Scott Conrad, Joel Florez, Billy Kiesel, JeninaBilan and Patricity. Turner and Flavor will take over at 11:30 and will feature guests Ras Wayne Vicks, Tibi Wong and Nan Clifford.

There's no kind of Louisiana party without food, and the Turner-driven gathering will have catfish, red beans and rice. Cover charge is $5 until 8 p.m., $8 after.

Memorial Day rock

Backstage Live will present a three-stage Memorial Day Bash Saturday. One stage will have the Hed 2 Head Tour with (HeD) p.e. and Mushroomhead plus American Head Charge, Corvus, Tenafly Viper and PigWeed. Puddle of Mudd will headline another stage with Cult to Follow and the Last Place You Look. Korn fans will find the tribute band Freaks on a Leash working another Backstage Live stage Saturday with 7 Words.

Tickets cost $9.95 in advance through frontgatetickets.com, $20 at the door for those 21 and older, $25 at the door for rockers younger than 21.

jbeal@express-news.net. Beal is host of the “Third Coast Music Network” show from 3-7 p.m. Thursdays on KSYM, 90.1 FM. @jimbealjr on Twitter.